convict

American  

[kuhn-vikt, kon-vikt] / kənˈvɪkt, ˈkɒn vɪkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial.

   to convict a prisoner of a felony.

2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

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noun

1. a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.

2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective

1. Archaic. convicted.

convict British  

verb

1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

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noun

1. a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment

2. a person serving a prison sentence

adjective

1. obsolete convicted

Other Word Forms

• convictable adjective
• convictible adjective
• convictive adjective
• convictively adverb
• preconvict verb (used with object)
• reconvict verb (used with object)
• unconvicting adjective
• unconvictive adjective

Etymology

Origin of convict

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb convicten, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + vic-, variant stem of vincere “to overcome” + -tus past participle suffix; Middle English noun convict “(a) convict,” adjective convict “convicted,” past participle of convicten “to convince” (or directly from Latin ); con-, convince

Example Sentences

She was convicted in December 2021, and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two Los Angeles protesters were convicted late Friday of stalking a U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

He was convicted in July after a six-week trial and made two unsuccessful appeals, denied a new trial only a week ago.

From Los Angeles Times

They were convicted on espionage charges which their families have always condemned as fabricated.

From Barron's

The elder Kwok became the first person to be convicted of this type of offence earlier this month in a case rights groups called an "alarming act of collective punishment".

From Barron's

Related Words

• captive
• felon
• prisoner